INCLUSIVE POLICING
have capacity and need to understand that they have a responsibility to follow the law like everyone else in the community. Being treated equally in this respect
is an important part of placing personal responsibility on the individuals we work with to develop their self-control and begin to learn to manage their own risk. In this way, we can better support them to make positive choices, regain control over their lives, and grow community connections. Many build new friendships, enter employment, and develop different interests. All of which provide these individuals with a reason to care about their role within the community and become less likely to come into contact with the criminal justice system in the future. However, it is also important
that the specific needs of these individuals are not ignored. We have also witnessed situations when the police’s approach has not accommodated the diagnosis of the individual, often despite having previously engaged with them on this matter. In turn, this has led situations to unnecessarily escalate. Fluorescent lights, sirens, and chaotic environments can be difficult for individuals with autism and can lead to anxiety, fear, and communication breakdowns. While it is important that police officers take action when the people we support break the law, if this happens without making necessary adjustments then the process becomes more difficult for everyone involved.
THE NEED FOR CONSISTENCY We work across the country and have observed a concerning inconsistency between police forces in the understanding of people with learning disabilities and autism. It goes without saying, but individuals with learning disabilities who
find themselves in contact with the criminal justice system should be treated equally, no matter where they are in the UK. High-quality training for police who are
engaging with individuals and autism on the frontline is urgently needed in every corner of the country. Dimensions previously led a seven-month training programme with Surrey Police APT officers focusing on learning disability and autism hate crimes and examining the origins of stigma and prejudice. After the training, 93 per cent felt confident engaging with someone with a
“It is time to look beyond the label and for police forces to collaborate
with support providers to expand their understanding of people with learning disabilities and autism.”
learning disability. This is testimony to the impact of thorough training in addressing the gap in understanding those with learning disabilities and autism.
IMPROVING COMMUNICATION We have also had concerns around police not sharing information appropriately across departments. On one occasion, a person we support’s Sexual Harm Prevention Order was not appropriately communicated to the Management of Sexual or Violent Offenders (MOSOVO) team. This resulted in a MOSOVO Officer coming out to visit the person we support and telling them that they do not have to adhere to any restrictions, as they were unaware of the Sexual Harm Prevention Order being in place. This caused a great deal of confusion and mistrust for the person we support, and their support team, who felt they had been given conflicting information. This situation could have been avoided through greater communication and synergy.
COLLABORATION We need to strengthen the collaborations between the police and support providers like us. Building meaningful and productive relationships between the two parties can create better outcomes for all. Not only do we have useful insights and expertise to share with the police about people with learning disabilities and autism, but as a team, we also recognise the learnings we would gain from them. Partnership working and cross-discipline learning are key. This may involve inviting support providers in your area to the station for an initial conversation or allowing those with expertise to provide training to your officers. As an example, we have had
a positive experience working alongside a MOSOVO Officer assigned to one of the people
we support. They maintain good communication with us regarding their input, specifically in relation to how often they are visiting the person we support. They also provide feedback on how visits have gone. The MOSOVO Officer is supportive of our approach, attending relevant meetings, and giving input into risk management strategies where necessary. The experience of people with disabilities in the criminal justice system has been the subject of a wide variety of research papers and policies over the years. However, this work isn’t helpful unless it translates into practice. It is time to look beyond the label and for police forces to collaborate with support providers to expand their understanding of people with learning disabilities and autism. Let’s work together and push for better outcomes for all in our communities.
If this article has provoked you, we’d welcome a conversation. Drop us a line at
communications@dimensions-uk.org
15 | POLICE | APRIL | 2024
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
